“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people” - Abraham Lincoln

This was the definition of democracy in its early stages but just like any other belief it too stands to trial in the present day and age. The biggest question today is whether this definition is still true or not? And the answers to this question are silent uncertain nods. We have mistaken its meaning, democracy is not the opinion of the masses but the voice of every individual. So I as an Indian will analyze my democracy.

India is the biggest democracy of the world. Due to its sheer size and population it is expected of the system to be glitched and to some extent it is valid too. The whole machinery that was devised by the great heads of old was flawless. Governance by election was to be present from the very small (village panchayats) to city administration. A Prime Minister to deal with national issues and a State ministers to deal with state wise issues. But what we have at hand is the village leaders trying to define the national law, self declared moral police defining dress and civil codes and Chief Ministers of State fighting for land from other states. The whole administration is in disarray.

To understand India’s Democratic equation we must analyze its variables. We are a secular nation boasting people from more than 7 prominent religions of the world. Hinduism constitutes more than 80.5% of the populance. They are the biggest vote banks for a government that wishes to sit at the national helm, while those who are content with getting simple representation go for the greater minority of Muslims (13.4%). Left in the fray are the Christians and other lesser religions. The process is not so simple yet, even in Hindus the vote bank is divided into various castes and creeds.

Votes are not polled by choice at several places across the country, rather they are cast by the pressure of a gun’s nozzle on the neck of the caster. Voting booths are captured as a whole while the law enforcers stand by and watch. The whole system is corrupt to the core right from the top to the bottom. To put in a new definition to Democracy in India I will say:

“Democracy is the government of the cash, by the religion, for the ministers”

So should the common man have any expectation from such a government? The answer is no. The reason being, it’s the common man’s fault that the situation got so worse. The rules are there in the constitution, the power is still there in the voice of masses it’s the will to do that’s been lost. Even today if we get off our reclining chairs and start a movement then who can stop a wild fire in a dry forest.